Will Skate succeed as a live service game? (EA)A closed alpha test for EAs Skate has raised alarm bells ahead of its early access launch this year.Fans of skateboarding games look set to be served well this year, with Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4, Skate Story, and EAs Skate reboot all due to launch in 2025.The biggest question mark hangs over the latter, which was announced five years ago and is switching to a free-to-play format for the first time. While it is called Skate, the next entry is technically the fourth mainline instalment in the series, and the first in 15 years since Skate 3.In an age when live service games come and go within months, theres naturally some trepidation around Skate going free-to-play something which has only been heightened by the presence of microtransactions in the ongoing closed alpha test.In an email sent to players who signed up to the alpha, which has been shared on Reddit, EA announced an epic gameplay update which includes new items and features, including the option to purchase and use in-game currency known as San Van Bucks.We want to provide [a] positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store, reads the email. To ensure we achieve these goals at early access we have enabled the option to purchase and use virtual currency in our ongoing closed alpha playtest.Your feedback will be greatly appreciated in providing a great experience at early access launch.EA states any purchases made during the alpha period will be converted back to San Van Bucks of an equivalent value which will be available in your account at the early access launch, which is slated to begin at some point in 2025.More TrendingTo make sure this happens though, you have to use the same EA account for both playtesting and early access.While free-to-play games inevitably require microtransactions to keep the lights on, its unusual for them to be activated in alpha tests. If they are, typically developers will give players a certain amount of currency for free to test the in-game shop, so they can get feedback that way.EA is technically giving back any money spent on microtransactions during the alpha via in-game currency, when it launches in early access, but it still feels gross to lock in financial investment from players before it has even come out especially as its not even in early access yet.Skate is set to launch in early access this year across consoles, PC, and mobile, but EA has yet to announce a specific date. In the meantime, the remake of Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4 will launch on July 11, 2025. Skate is set to launch this year in early access (EA)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy